Is It Your Fault!!??

[sensei8]

Let's be honest!

With everything you've ever been taught to this very moment, and when you have either executed or applied said technique, WAS IT EFFECTIVE??

If it wasn't effective, was it the technique or was it your fault? After all, the technique(s) are part of the approved curriculum doctrine, in that, the technique(s) that were taught to you, and that you've learnt, didn't come by osmosis or out of thin air or by happenstance; they're proven and tried technique(s).

It must be your fault! Said technique(s) are effective for everyone else in your style, but not you. It must be your fault...but...it's NOT!!

No! There's more than just one technique that you've been taught to choose from, and to make it effective for YOU!!

Imagine your style consisted of only 1 technique. Well...that one technique better be the most incredible and most awesome one to be consistently effective.

Not every MA technique is for every MAist!!

Thoughts?

[Dobbersky]

Personally any technique which is only applied against a Karate attack isn't the fault of the practitioner, its the fault of the creator.

I when practicing Wado tried one of the Oyo Gumite against a blackbelt Tang Soo Do'ist and it didn't work because he didn't defend the way it was taught in the Oyo.

Some of the combinations etc work perfectly within the core system but don't work outside it.

I find a lot of schools train all these technical jumble then resort to "kickboxing" style sparring when fighting other styles etc. Which says what about the styles as kickboxing isn't in the syllabus

[DoctorQui]

I when practicing Wado tried one of the Oyo Gumite against a blackbelt Tang Soo Do'ist and it didn't work because he didn't defend the way it was taught in the Oyo.

Some of the combinations etc work perfectly within the core system but

This, this and thrice this!!!

It is your fault if you are taught something in the dojo and it doesn't work in the dojo with someone who knows whats coming and how to react to it!

For me, technique is a foundation stone, you will always need to adapt it to suit your need and even then, if the opponent reacts in away that renders the technique ineffective then it the wrong technique to use in that situation which you can only know after you have attempted it.

At the end of the day, you cannot predict how your opponent will respond!

[Dobbersky]

.......

At the end of the day, you cannot predict how your opponent will respond!

This is precisely it. How can it be your fault if you can't predict.

Also this is why Demo teams look so good because THEY ALLL KNOW what's coming next. Put a fighter from a different style in WHO's not conversant with the demo and it WILL go wrong!

This is one reason why Bunkai and Oyo of Kata is so important, forget all the "self-defense" combinations and wrist locks 1 to 24 etc that only work against a compliant opponent.

Karate, Jujitsu, Kenpo & other styles work well within the confines of their systems and competitions with their rules but go outside that comfort zone and the weaknesses start to show.THIS is Mushashi said one must train in several schools to become an allround fighter.

[DoctorQui]

.......

At the end of the day, you cannot predict how your opponent will respond!

This is precisely it. How can it be your fault if you can't predict.

Also this is why Demo teams look so good because THEY ALLL KNOW what's coming next. Put a fighter from a different style in WHO's not conversant with the demo and it WILL go wrong!

This is one reason why Bunkai and Oyo of Kata is so important, forget all the "self-defense" combinations and wrist locks 1 to 24 etc that only work against a compliant opponent.

Karate, Jujitsu, Kenpo & other styles work well within the confines of their systems and competitions with their rules but go outside that comfort zone and the weaknesses start to show.THIS is Mushashi said one must train in several schools to become an allround fighter.

Its probably important to note that MAist often have trained in more than one style and can use any of them to counter your technique in a kumite situation. I have four I can choose from, Wado, Shotokan and some (not much) Goju as well as some Aikido. I adapt as required!

Interestingly, how many of you would frown upon using techniques in the dojo that go outside the style. We had a stand in instructor last week (who frankly is a bit of a prat and power mad!) who decided that we don't do enough Kumite in his opinion ( ) and took us through some moves. Almost all of his combinations included techniques that can be best described as street fighting ie Head Butting, genital striking etc! Now, for me that isn't Kumite but self defence which I believe does have its place in the dojo but mainly to teach us how to defend against them rather than actually perform them!!

Thoughts?!?

[sensei8]

DoctorQui...Dobbersky,

Your arguments, imho, were spot dead on, imho!! In that, I applaud you both for not falling for my ploy.

In my OP, I was playing devils advocate. The parameters that I spoke upon were in concert with students of the MA who argue against proven curriculum doctrine. There's a difference, imho, between proven CURRICULUM doctrine and proven STREET doctrine.

Adapt or die. Harsh, but it's a possibility. In the book..."Who Moved My Cheese", one can see, after reading this book, what will happen if one's unwilling to make the necessary changes in order to survive.

Having said that, I wholeheartedly concur with you both that it can't be your fault if one can't predict the outcome against an opponent who isn't compliant.

Oyo and the like teaches us to ADAPT to the many increasing changes. It works for others AT TIMES!! Having said that, I believe in the curriculum, and the things that I teach will work, but only when the parameters occur at THAT given moment.

I will ADAPT and use whatever works, no matter the style from which I've learnt it from. I'm not blindly dependent on Shindokan because, like all MA styles, nothings perfect.

I believe in Shindokan wholeheartedly, but, like every MA, it's limited to a point, and in that, I WILL ADAPT TO SURVIVE.

'IT' didn't work because you've not "matured" in that given technique." I've matured in every Shindokan technique, and I'm still improving on each and every Shindokan technique. Why? I'm not perfect and neither is Shindokan. 'IT' didn't work because sometimes things just don't work, but that doesn't mean that 'IT' won't work the next time.

I don't agree that the fault lies within the creator of the style. NO! Why? I must believe in what the founder has created because for a technique to work, I sincerely believe that one must believe in the technique(s) and its many possibilities. If I don't believe in said technique, then said technique will die before given a chance to succeed. I make the techniques/curriculum within Shindokan work because I've been doing them much longer than my students, however, even a technique will not work because my opponent didn't want 'IT' to work...but hold on...when one technique doesn't work, I adapt, and then I use something else, and I keep adapting until 'IT' does work.

Any other thoughts?

Edits: Sometimes I just can't spell...sheech!

Edited December 23, 2012 by sensei8

[Wastelander]

There are some things that we do that don't work for me--my instructor can make them work, but he has been training for as long as I have been alive and has a lot of natural skill. I do work on the more complex techniques, even though I have a hard time getting them to work, in the hopes that one day I can add them to my arsenal. As it stands, though, I tend to drill my more basic, known-effective techniques when put under pressure.

[sensei8]

There are some things that we do that don't work for me--my instructor can make them work, but he has been training for as long as I have been alive and has a lot of natural skill. I do work on the more complex techniques, even though I have a hard time getting them to work, in the hopes that one day I can add them to my arsenal. As it stands, though, I tend to drill my more basic, known-effective techniques when put under pressure.

Solid post!!

[Harkon72]

What we must realize is that everyone is different. Different strengths and weaknesses, we are human after all.

[inventor]

"Master technique; but let the spirit prevail."